Venezuela’s parliament rejects legitimacy of Maduro second term

General view at Venezuela’s National Assembly during the inauguration ceremony in Caracas on January 5, 2019. The opposition-controlled National Assembly will declare illegitimate the new presidential term of Nicolas Maduro, due to start January 10, a symbolic decision that could further divide the opponents of the government. (Photo: AFP)

“We reaffirm the illegitimacy of Nicolas Maduro,” the assembly’s new president Juan Guaido said as he was sworn in at the start of a new legislative session.

“As of January 10, he will be usurping the presidency and consequently this National Assembly is the only legitimate representative of the people.”

Maduro is set to be sworn in on Thursday for a second six-year term after holding controversial early elections May 8.

The elections were boycotted by most of the opposition and widely condemned by the international community.

On Friday, foreign ministers from 12 Latin American countries and Canada announced in Lima that their governments would not recognize Maduro as president if he attempts to remain in office and urged him to turn over power to the National Assembly.

Guaido, in a speech attended by members of the diplomatic corps, declared that the military’s chain of command had been “broken or usurped,” but called on the armed forces to support efforts “to restore democracy.”

He committed to “generate conditions for a government of transition and to call free elections.”